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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: Altamirano DATE TYPED: 02-22-01 HB
SHORT TITLE: Public Employee Bargaining Act SB 75
ANALYST: Gonzales


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
$ 219.0 Recurring GF



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC Files



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



This bill enacts the Public Employee Bargaining Act (Act) and guarantees collective bargaining for public employees, establishes procedures for recognizing public employee bargaining units and specifies collective bargaining rights and responsibilities for resolving disputes between those bargaining units and state and local public employers. This bill also establishes a three-member regulatory board, the Public Employee Labor Relations Board, to administer the Act effective July 1, 2001. The Act permits local governments to create their own boards.



Significant Issues



The scope of bargaining is limited to wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment and other issues agreed upon by both the board and exclusive representative. The Act prohibits strikes and lock outs, establishes judicial enforcement, outlines procedures for impasse mediation and arbitration, recognizes existing collective bargaining units established prior to July 1, 2001 and, if established through a representation election, bargaining units established between July 1, 2001 and the effective date of the Act. Additionally, this bill allows for the already existing ordinances to continue to operate under the provisions and procedures set up in said ordinances. This Act does not have contain a termination date. The expenditure of funds made through an agreement of the state and an exclusive representative or any impasse resolution is contingent upon both legislative appropriation and the availability of funds.





FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



There is no appropriation contained in this bill. However, in FY99 the Public Employee Labor Relations Board operated with a budget of $219.0 and two FTE. This budget included bill reimbursement for per-diem and mileage, as this bill allows. It is anticipated an appropriation will be necessary to carry our the provisions of this bill.



ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



It is expected some agency personnel would need to devote time to employer-employee relations.



JMG/ar